The Bowdoin Orient

Multiple campus voting districts and misconceptions about student voting could create confusion on Election Day for many students planning to vote in their first presidential election. Town officials, college administrators, and student organizations are working to ensure that voting goes smoothly, but in the event that students have difficulties, the major political parties have attorneys in place to provide assistance.

President Barry Mills announced his opposition to Maine's Question 1, the "Palesky tax cap," as part of his remarks at the rededication of the Bowdoin Chapel last night. The event also included a showcasing of the Chapel's organ and a reflection from Associate Professor of Art History Susan Wegner.

Though bear hunting is most often practiced far from the Bowdoin Quad, a proposition to ban the practice will appear on ballots in Brunswick and the rest of Maine on November 2.

Two anonymous students have reported symptoms of date-rape drug ingestion to members of Residential Life.

By capping state property taxes at one percent of the assessed property value, the measure would place unacceptable limits on services essential to the growth and prosperity of both the Brunswick and Bowdoin communities.

It is not too much of an exaggeration to claim that George Bush has staked his chances for reelection on the idea of "freedom." The word has become a constant in his speeches and responses during the debate, and the idea has become almost the sole basis of his latest justification for invading Iraq.

With all the nasty election year politics and vicious schoolyard insults being thrown around lately by both the College Democrats and College Republicans, it's nice to see Bowdoin students energized by another issue?the Red Sox.

After reading the editorial written in last week's Orient, POETING was deeply troubled and disappointed. First and foremost, we have a fundamental right to showcase our talents in the Parents Weekend student performances.

I was disappointed to read last week's Orient editorial, "A time and a place," which denounced Poeting's performance during Parents Weekend. The editorial claimed that the performance was inappropriate because it had the potential to make some audience members uncomfortable.

As a result of Ben Peisch's article, "Days as a Pro-Ralph Nader Man," I would like to confess my own extremism and beg pardon. Until reading his article, I had not realized, I too was duped. However, I have not merely been duped by Bowdoin's "finger pointing leftist ideologues."

As Democratic Socialists, there are a number of stereotypes and misconceptions about who we are. We have been called everything from Communists, bourgeoisie sell-outs, and Naderites by all. We are none of these, nor are we "extremists" as some of our misguided peers may have you believe.

I've read a few pieces in the Orient that disturb me for the palpable lack of understanding on global issues, particularly those that deal with issues of empire, racism and policy in the Middle East.

We were dismayed and confused upon reading Liz Hedrick's opinion of the Bowdoin social scene. Incidentally, at the exact moment that we were reading her editorial, we were spending our Friday evening eating homemade apple pie and watching a movie.

For the second year in a row, members of the campus group Poeting punctuated a Saturday night Parents Weekend performance of lighthearted a capella, dance, and drum acts with a highly-charged presentation of controversial social and political issues. While we respect Poeting's well-intentioned mission, we wonder if this Parents Weekend event is the proper venue for such inherently divisive racial issues.

According to the sign by the Desert of Maine parking lot, the Desert is "Maine's most famous natural phenomenon."

In this heated election year, a Bowdoin alumnus finds himself in the midst of the fray and playing a major role in getting out the vote. Not only is he hiring campus organizers and fellowship interns for the state PIRGs (Public Interest Research Groups), but he is also a very recent graduate: Nick Walker '04, who currently works for the Boston-based organization.

Two other gringos and I traveled to the town of Petrohué on Lago Todos los Santos southern Chile this September. According to the guidebooks, Petrohué is picturesque, situated on the lake and surrounded by a beautiful national park. What the guidebooks neglected to mention was the size of this "town."

You are sitting in class, walking around the quad, or going through the Union and you spot one. In fact, you see more than one and soon enough you realize they are all around you. They wear Chaco's on their feet, Carhartt pants, and shirts that should have been added to your mother's rag collection years ago. All of them love the outdoors, the majority dislike President Bush, some sport sketchy facial hair and a few of us, myself included, like going a couple of days without showering. Who are these wild people and where do they come from? Chances are that if they meet the above description, they are leaders in the Bowdoin Outing Club.

Dear Dr. Jeff: This may sound pretty dumb, but with all the talk you hear about hand washing and the flu, is there some special way you're supposed to be washing your hands? J.N. Dear J.N.: Very timely question, and nothing dumb about it at all! Hand washing is felt to be the single most effective way to prevent the transmission of infectious disease.

The Irish are known for their friendliness and heavy alcohol consumption, and in terms of affability, they delightfully met my expectations, but the boozing is beyond anything I imagined.

The best indication that you've ingested a date rape drug is that you feel far more affected by what you've been drinking than you would expect to be.

Following in the steps of other notable Bowdoin alumni, Edward Sweeney '03 has earned fame...as Cosmopolitan's Hottest Hunk in Massachusetts. Sweeney's friend, Laura Quinlin '03, also a Bowdoin alum, nominated him for the honor. Sweeney said he was hesitant to agree at first. "Cosmopolitan is definitely not my type of magazine. I've never read it before," he said. "I knew I probably would get mixed reviews from family and friends. But I thought it was a good opportunity and would be a good experience."

Unfortunately for Dennis Kiley '03, modeling wasn't an offered major. However, going from simply being a local to national heartthrob was an easier transition than the former Bowdoin rugby player may have believed. The unknown was discovered six months ago in a Park City, Utah gym and has now delved into a modeling career for fashion and cologne designer John Robert Holbrook.

We've all seen, or at least heard, that The Wizard of Oz can be mysteriously synchronized with Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon. I personally have stared in amazement as the bright Technicolor world of Oz came into view just as the audio track transitioned into "Money." "How did they do that?" I wondered, not sure who "they" was. Suddenly, munchkins became miniature, choreographed participants in an interpretive dance. Odd sound effects punctuated distinct moments, giving them new significance. The Wizard of Oz was no longer The Wizard of Oz. It was... trippy.

Welcome once again to the fantastic world of wines. I've been feeling a little guilty the last week or so because I have been, as usual, neglecting white wines. This is mostly because I'm not really a white wine kind of girl. I can't be bothered to plan ahead enough to actually put a bottle in the fridge to chill in advance, and since most of my wine drinking is spontaneous, I frequently don't have a white ready to drink. So this week, to make up for my poor representation of white wines, I have two very lovely but wholly different wines.

This October defines bittersweet for Elliott Smith fans. The month marks the first year since Smith's alleged suicide; those whom he reached with his brilliant, feeling songs had an unhappy anniversary. However, admirers had the long-awaited sixth album to look forward to, a happy remembrance of the artist. Since the announcement of the release date of From A Basement On A Hill, fans may have heard live versions of some of the songs due to be on the album fully orchestrated; many of the titles are pieces Smith had been performing in nightclubs long before the promise of their studio versions.

The lights went down while a hooded figure stood on top of the drum kit with his back to the audience on Wednesday evening at Irving Plaza. The bass player began plucking the dance beat and everyone started moving. Moving Units was opening The College Music Journal Marathon with their rapture-esque rhythms fused with the rock band mentality.

What song, artist, or album changed your life? JF: The Baha Men. Because no matter how many times I listen to "Who let the dogs out?" it just never gets old. DH: In middle school, I had every Michael Jackson album on tape. He rocks so hard.

In the interest of sparking even more debate and discussion on campus, we bring you one of the most politically charged, popular, and important films of the past year. This film, made by documentary filmmaker and activist Moore, attacks the behavior of the Bush administration after the September 11 attacks. He targets the war on terrorism, the misleading chase for Osama Bin Laden and the current state of affairs in Iraq. It may be muckraking with a very liberal bias, but it is an extremely influential film and everyone should see it before voting in November.

"At the risk of sounding like a cliché, music brings people together," Sam Farrell '05 said. "Writing music is such an honest, revealing process as well, and I think it goes well with the idea of Out Week?having the courage to be honest with people around you and most importantly yourself. It's not easy."

The Bowdoin men's soccer team rebounded from consecutive losses to Tufts and Wheaton with a convincing 3-1 victory at Connecticut College last Saturday. With the win, the team improved to 8-4 overall and 5-2 in NESCAC play.

As the Bowdoin women's cross country team lined up for the start of the Maine state meet at Twin Brook Recreation Center in Cumberland, they prepared to face a course muddied by the previous day's rain and tough competition from NESCAC rivals Bates and Colby.

The last five days have completely drained me, but the show must go on. So, without further delay, here are my NFL thoughts as we head into week 7.